This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo)) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 26, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 26 David is hiding in the desert but Hachilah is on the edge of the desert, so David actually sends men secretly to see if Saul is really there and he is. What a shock? Despite the previous incident where David spared his life, Saul is still after him.
So David embarks on an undercover night mission. Saul would not have been expecting anything like this. David takes Saul’s spear and spares his life in a similar way to what happened before in the caves at En Gedi. Saul is once again sorry and appreciate.
David realises that no matter what assurances there are from Saul, that he is going to relent again. Saul has now several times made promises that David’s life is safe but failed to keep them. So David will remain in hiding even after this incident.
What this type of incident does though is send a very strong message to all of Saul’s soldiers, and to all of David’s men. It shows he is honourable, he is not self-serving and this attitude is what will bring about God’s will. Later in the book of kings there are many examples of coups and assassinations to take the throne, and in most cases those people had unstable governments and were often assassinated themselves. David’s attitude of honor establishes something permanent and good.
Later when the nation splits in two... the southern nation of Judah maintains the same dynasty throughout, descended from David, ultimately leading to Christ. The northern nation goes through many dynasties as blood and controversy follow them all until ultimately the northern tribes cease to exist. Would David’s dynasty have survived if he had killed Saul here?
Many people justify themselves in what they do, but few are single heartedly committed to doing what is right in God’s eyes.
Oct 1, 2021 | Message by David Alley